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Re: "In + duration" to talk about past events

"We solved the problem in three hours." Doesn't this sometimes mean that we solved the problem during (within) three hours, depending on the context?

Yes it does.
That is what your respondents have said.

If you wanted to talk about the future, you'd have to say: We will solve the problem within three hours. (The problem will be solved between now and three hours from now) ORWe will solve the problem in three hours. i) Same as above, or ii) We will start solving the problem in three hours time, or iii) It will take us three hours to solve the problem after we start (which could be any time).

Re: "In + duration" to talk about past events

Originally Posted by Raymott

Yes it does.
That is what your respondents have said.

If you wanted to talk about the future, you'd have to say: We will solve the problem within three hours. (The problem will be solved between now and three hours from now) ORWe will solve the problem in three hours. i) Same as above, or ii) We will start solving the problem in three hours time, or iii) It will take us three hours to solve the problem after we start (which could be any time).

That's a good point, and it reminds that it is possible to understand phrases that use "in" such as "in three hours" as marking a kind of line that indicates a limitation or a "finish line".

1________2________3_______| -not past 3 hours; no more than 3 hours ___in three hours_____